One of the fun bits in our AIM show that involves the students is Astor Piazzolla’s famous Libertango. We first teach the children a rhythm on the instruments that they brought with them: their hands and legs! They perform the rhythm by clapping and tapping their legs: Clap, Tap-Tap, Clap, Tap-Tap, etc. Then, we ask them to perform with us while we play Libertango. They’re the percussion section!

In their exuberance (which we love) the students’ rhythm often turns into Clap, SMACK-SMACK… Clap, SMACK-SMACK – a lot like a crowd at a basketball game (think “We Will, We Will Rock You.”) Last Tuesday at Fairmont Elementary School, Kyle, our oboist, had a breakthrough… replace leg tapping with finger snapping – not loud… trickier coordination so no more rushing… brilliant! But could such a simple solution really work? Yes!! Our second performance went beautifully. The students were able to do the rhythm perfectly, but their “percussion” never got loud enough to keep them from hearing and enjoying the music.

This is how our AIM show is always evolving… each school audience is a little different but when problems emerge repeatedly that we need to address it’s a great feeling when we can find a brilliant solution.

Date January 25, 2010
Day 6
Shows 17 – 18
Schools Miraloma Elementary

Memorization

Date January 12, 2010
Day 1
Schools ER Taylor and Dr. William Cobb Elementary
Number of Concerts 4

This week we kicked off our 3rd season with the prestigious San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music (AIM) Program! As you might know, AIM is a music outreach and education program where they send 8 ensembles into
all the public schools of the San Francisco Unified School District – that’s about 75 elementary schools and 14,000 children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades!

It was wonderful to once again see all the smiling faces! We open our show with a movement of Gyorgy Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles (1953). We explain to the children that a bagatelle is a short, fun piece of music. Wow, we had no idea how much these kids would love Ligeti, a Romanian 20th century composer. The kids were all laughs when they heard the high piccolo and the low bassoon.

Our Third Season

We are very fortunate to be part of the AIM program. Although we have 2 seasons under our belt, our first day on stage was still a bit nerve wracking. Would we remember our speeches, would we remember our music, would the kids like our show, would they think we were funny? Each and every concert is always full of surprises, we never know what to expect.

When we got to Cobb Elementary school in the afternoon, we closed our program with the song Jarabé Tapatio, aka “The Mexican Hat Dance” – We’ve played that song hundreds of times for children all over the Bay Area…and never once before today did the entire audience simultaneously break out into “olé!” after each phrase. It was wonderful and the kids just loved it.

That’s it for today, please check back regularly as we get into a routine in updating our Adventures with Adventures in Music.

Saturday, February 27, 2010
8:00 pm

Free – reception to follow

Community Music Center
544 Capp Street (click here for map/directions)
San Francisco, CA 94110

www.sfcmc.org

Dedicated to the classical and contemporary music of Latin America, Quinteto Latino brings its impeccable artistry and infectious energy to works of distinguished Mexican composers Carlos Chávez, Mario Lavista and Arturo Márquez.

Wheelchair Access:

Yes, Concert Hall

Español:

Si desea hablar con alguien en español, llame o venga por favor entre las 9 de la mañana hasta las 5 de la tarde, de martes a sabado. La persona que habla español se llama Tania Morales.

Parking:

New Mission Bartlett Garage
(21st Street, between Mission and Valencia Streets)

Public Transportation:

MUNI lines 14, 33 & 49
BART 16th or 24th Street Station

Program

Soli No. 2 – Carlos Chavez
Son de la bruja – Jose Luis Hurtado
Cinco danzas breves – Mario Lavista
Danza de mediodia – Arturo Marquez

We are excited to be part of the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program, our 3rd season! We will be sharing our experiences with you throughout the semester as we go to each and every public school in the San Francisco Unified School District. We’ll be performing for over 14,000 3rd-5th graders!

Stay Tuned

We kick off our season on January 11, 2010 at Jean Parker Elementary.

Welcome Rufus!

We are also excited to work with Rufus Olivier Jr III, our AIM bassoonist. He has graciously and effortlessly joined in with us while Shawn Jones works with the SF Ballet for a season.

AIM Rehearsal and DiscussionDecember 18, 2009

Quinteto Latino blends the vibrant colors and vigorous rhythms of Latin American music with the sumptuous voices of the wind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Whether exploring new twists on traditional folk songs or premiering works by living composers, these five musicians perform with impeccable artistry and infectious energy – educating, enriching, and entertaining listeners of all ages and backgrounds. Founded in 2001 by French hornist Armando Castellano, this unique ensemble is passionately dedicated to a dual mission: to expand the cultural boundaries of classical music, and to make that music available, relevant, and inspiring to entirely new audiences.

Sound Clips

Aires Tropicales

http://quintetolatino.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/QLAiresTropicalesNEW.mp3

Estrellita

http://quintetolatino.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/QLEstrellitaNEW.mp3

Libertango

http://quintetolatino.org/2009/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/QLLibertangoNEW.mp3

Join us for a chamber music marathon with 15 of the hottest ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area! With each group introduced by a local presenter, you’ll experience diverse music – from baroque and classical to contemporary and jazz – and find out who’s showcasing the musicians and where.

Quinteto Latino is playing at 1:00pm

Free

Location TBD

More information

Friday, September 11, 2009
8:00 pm

1751 Sacramento St. at Van Ness Ave

Dedicated to the classical and contemporary music of Latin America, Quinteto Latino brings its impeccable artistry and infectious energy to works of distinguished Mexican composers Carlos Chávez, Mario Lavista and Arturo Márquez.

TICKETS

$15.00 General
$12.00 Seniors (65 and older)
$12.00 Full Time Students

Old First Concerts

San Francisco Airport
International Terminal

Friday, July 31, 2009
11:00am – 2:00pm
Free

More info